Johnny Sack, Al Leiter on Christie transition team

Gov.-elect Chris Christie has been announcing the members of his various transition team committees this week; in due time, those names and some backgrounders on the members will appear in this space.

Most of the people are known primarily to the political community. But today’s appointment of the members of the Gaming, Sports & Entertainment subcommittee (by its very nature, I suppose) includes a few the wider world would find familiar.

Actor Vince Curatola, 56, of Upper Saddle River, who is best known for playing chain-smoking Johnny “Sack” Sacramoni on HBO’s “The Sopranos,” and former baseball star Al Leiter, 44, a Toms River native with oft-cited interest in making the move from MLB Network analyst into politics, are on the panel. Both are Republicans.

Also on the panel is former Rutgers University athletic director Bob Mulcahy, fired nearly a year ago from that job in what caused a bit of a political dustup for university president Richard McCormick. Mulcahy, 73, of Bernards, is a registered Democrat with allies in both major parties, sprung from his nearly two decades in charge of the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority.

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About Michael Symons

Michael Symons has covered seven governors while working in Gannett's Statehouse Bureau -- a stint which actually only stretches back to 2000, but the door revolves quickly in New Jersey politics. He's co-author of the biography "Chris Christie: The Inside Story of His Rise to Power."

About the Authors

Bob JordanBob Jordan has covered state, county and muncipal governments for the past 10 years. He has also covered the gaming industry and has been a sports team beat writer for NHL, NBA and major league baseball teams.E-mail Bob

John SchoonejongenJohn Schoonejongen is state editor for Gannett New Jersey newspapers. He has reported and edited at New Jersey newspapers from Salem County to Passaic County, writing about everything from state politics to lost pigs on the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Born in Camden County, he still speaks with a southern New Jersey accent, much to his wife's annoyance.E-mail John

Michael SymonsMichael Symons has covered seven governors while working in Gannett's Statehouse Bureau -- a stint which actually only stretches back to 2000, but the door revolves quickly in New Jersey politics. He's co-author of the biography "Chris Christie: The Inside Story of His Rise to Power."E-mail Michael